Model-driven development of RTOS-based embedded software

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the model-driven software development as a viable solution to the increasing complexity of embedded software. An important characteristic of a model-driven approach is that it allows a developer to focus on high-level models rather than low-level details, thereby raising the level of abstraction at which a developer can work. Therefore, the model-driven approach can provide a significant productivity gain and improved maintainability. One of the most noticeable approaches is the OMG's MDA (Model-Driven Architecture), which is a de facto standard. Unfortunately, MDA provides little support for the development of RTOS-based embedded software since it focuses primarily on middleware target platforms such as EJB, Web Services, .NET, and CORBA. In this paper, we present a model-driven approach to RTOS-based embedded software development and an automated tool that can produce RTOS-specific code. Our contributions are two fold. First, we propose generic RTOS APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that can capture most of typical RTOS services that can be used as a means for describing application's RTOS-related behavior at an early design stage. We then present a transformation tool that can generate fully functional code by transforming generic RTOS APIs into RTOS-specific APIs. Our tool, called TransPI, is able to produce 'C' code for POSIX-compliant RTOSs, and is also configurable to target other RTOSs that do not conform to the POSIX standard.